Acetylene-gas generator.



n 630,858. Patented Aug. 20, I901. m. A. mmu'un.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 11, 1699.)

(No Model.)

ine MATES Parent @rricn.

MILTON A. HAMILTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 680,858, dat'd August 20, 1901. Application filed September 11, 1899I Serial N0. 730,137. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON A. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinAcetylene-Gas Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of an acetylene-gas generator, and particularly in the following particulars: First, in the construction of a generator whereby the gas is dried and purified before passing into the mains; second, in the construction of a generator having a controlling device which maintains a uniform pressure in the mains regardless of the volume of gas which may be used, and, further, in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved generator, showing two tanks or generator-chambers, one in section and one in elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a controlling-valve for the pressure in the mains. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper part of one of the generators, showing the cap turned to one side to remove the carbid vessels. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the generators, illustrating the manner of connecting the water-supply thereto. Fig. 5 is a section through one edge of the cap, illustrating the joint between the cap and the body of the generator.

While I have shown and prefer to use two generating-tanks A and B,connected together, the broader features of my invention will be found to be embodied in a single tank which is provided with the other features of my invention, as hereinafter set forth.

The tanks A and B are provided at the top with caps G, which are supported in a yoke D, oneend of the yoke being hinged to an ear E on the top of the tank and the other being provided with suitable connecting means to an ear or lug F upon the opposite side. When the yoke is swung upon its hinge, it carries with it the cap, and it may be turned to the open position shown in Fig. 3 or to the closed position shown in Figs. 1

of the generator.

and at. In the closed position, the yoke being connected to the two ears rigidly, the handwheel F may be employed to screw down the cap tightly against the top of the receptacle to make a tight joint. This joint I preferably make as shown in Fig. 5.

The upper wall or edge of the generatorbody I provide with two flanges CL- and b of dilfereut heights, forming a well 0 between, and the rim of the cap I form with a depending lip cl, having an inclined inner surface adapted to bear against the outer wall of the flange h, as shown in the drawings. Between the wall I) and the under face of the cap I preferably arrange a packing e, as shown. The flange d dips into the well 0, and if this Well is filled with water or other fluid I can readily ascertain if the cap leaks by the hub bles passing through the joint thus sealed.

H is the carbid-receptacle, which is in the nature of a perforated vessel suspended or supported centrally near the lower end of the generator A. I have shown and I believe it is the preferable construction to suspend this vessel H by means of a rod I from another vessel J, likewise perforated and suspended in the top of the generator-chamber by any suitable suspending means, such as a crossbar a and a suitable hook 00 the two vessels being of such diameter that they can be readily withdrawn from the generator-chamber when the cap is removed.

I provide at the bottom of the generatorchamber, which is shown in the nature of a vertical cylinder, a valved exit K, which may be used to thoroughly wash out and cleanse the interior thereof when the oarbid-receptacles are removed. I also provide a gage L on the side to indicate the height of the water, and I may employ a cock M for drawing off the water from the generator whenever desired.

O is the exit-pipe for the gas from the top This leads into the main 0, which carries the gas to the burners. I have shown both generators connected to the main 0 by a similar pipe 0 and each provided with a valve P between the generator and the main, so that either or both generators may be connected to the main, as desired.

Q is the water-tank, which is arranged at such a height as to give the desired hydro- ICC static pressure to the water flowing into the v J being in position, the receptacle H being tank or generator.

Q is the water-supply pipe to the tank, and in this case I have shown it extending down to about the middle of the generator and connected through the valved branch pipes B into both generating-tanks AB, each'branch pipe being provided with a suitable controlling-valve S. The water-supply pipe has in it a check-valve T, and it is evident that as long as the pressure in the generator is less than the hydrostatic pressure of the water the water Will continue to flow into the generator and upon the carbid therein to generate gas; but when the pressure in the generator exceeds the hydrostatic pressure of the.

water the gas pressure Will then close the check-valve and shut off the water-Suppl y automatically.

\Vhen I am using the tank A, I'first dis-l charge the gas into the tank B by means of'a pipell and thence through the conduit or supply-pipe O, and when I use thetank B, I discharge the gas therefrom into the tank: A through a corresponding pipe U, these pipes being-provided with suitable shut-offvalves V.

effect, apart of the conduit or'main from the generator to the burners.

valve by the pressure in the main.

end of the stem his secured. Between the diaphragm n and the stuffing-box l is an 'air-i chamber 0, in which I desire to maintain substantially atmospheric pressure, and this I preferably accomplish byfirst makingthe packing-joint Z and the diaphragm n air tight, and, second, by a pipe or nipple 19,: preferably having a cock r leading into the. atmosphere, so that'if by any chance-'g'as-u-n-i der pressure should get into the chamber oI may reduce it to atmospheric pressure by opening the cock 1".

which, as before described, forms, in effect,"a part of the conduit.

Supposing the tank A tobe used as the generator and the tank B as a storage-tank or part :of the conduit or main, the operation of the parts is as follows: The tank Q being supthe gas-pressure. in the valve-casing assists in this closing.

to its normal pressure.

the pressure.

p 'The chamber "q below the diaphragm'l connect by a pipe swith the conduit or, preferably, with the tank Bf ceases plied with water and the receptacles'H and charged with carbid of calcium and the receptacle J being preferably charged with the same material, the valve S leading into the generator A is opened and a small supply of water will be delivered into operative relation to the carbid in the receptacle H, thereby producing the acetylene gas. This gas will rise into the upper part of the generator A and will pass over and in contact with the carbid in the receptacle J, which, as is well known, has great affinity for water and will extract a large proportion of the moisture from the gas thus generated. The gasthus formedwill pass out throughthe pipe U, the

valve V being open, and thence into the tank B. In this tank the gas will be further dried and purified besides being enriched by the moisture in the gas being absorbed by the dry carbid suspended therein. The exitvalve from the top of the tank B being open to the main 0, the gas will pass out therefrom. When the pressure in the tank B rises above the normal pressure desired, the valve 11 will be closed by the pressure of the gas,

v 1 which willpass through the pipe .9 and act When using the'tank A- as the generator: and discharging into the tank B,'the tank'B becomes apart of the conduit and acts as a; settling-chamber and a'partial condenser for thegas before goin-g'out into the rest of the main,'an'd in such use the tank B forms, in

on the under side of the diaphragm n to operate'that valve. The pressure desired to close the valve t is controlled by a weight applied to the valve. This I preferably form by means of a cup 25 on the valve-stem, containing shot or other similar material, the amount of which'may be varied so that any desired weight can be maintained to resist The air in this chamber 0 As soon as thepressure in the tank B is reduced to normal the weighted valve will automatically open, and the pressure from the tank A-can pass into the tank B and raise it This action is so quick that itpractically requires no appreciable diminution of pressure inthe tank 'B before the valve opens and again'balances Below the pipe sis a connecting-pipe s between the two tanks, witha shut off and check valve therein oppositely arranged to those in the pipe 8. This pipe 5'' connects into a controlling-valve in the generator-casing B, which controls the pipe U, leading from the tank or generator to the .tankorngenerator B, in the same manner as described for the controlling-valve in the'generator A. As before described, it requires this construction to get the benefit of my using two tanks, either one of which may be the main generator, as hereinbefore set forth.

. By'having' the controlling-valve inside of the tank'Qthere is no back pressure to open the valve, and'I am enabled to get an adjust= ment' that is not possible with a valve'located on the outside thereof.

Also, any leakage from the valve-casing is not detrimental, be-

cause it would 'simply leak into the generator itself.

'Itwill be obvious that instead of having a second tank into which to allow the gas to pass after being generated and there to be enriched and dried by dry carbid I may make the gas-chamber in the first tank sufficiently large and supplied with a sufficient amount of dried carbid to effect the same result. It is desirable that this dry carbid should be in a gas space or chamber entirely free from the generating carbid-receptacle, so that at no time in the operation of the machine would the gas go oif Without the purifying and drying effect of the dry carbid.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of a tank or vessel, a carbid receptacle therein, a water supply thereto, and a gas-exit therefrom, a second tank to which said exit connects, a connection from said second tank to the main supply, a pressure-controlling valve in the first rank, and a connection from said second tank to said valve.

2. The combination of two tanks each having carbid-receptacles Water-supply connections and gas-exits, a pressure-controlling valve in each tank for its exit-pipe, cross connections from the opposite tank to each pressure-controlling valve and shut-01f valves for the various pipes.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator comprising two tanks, carbid-receptacles in both tanks, controlled Water-supply to both tanks, gasexit pipes from both tanks and valve-controlled gas connections whereby either tank may be used as a generator and the other tank as a condensing and enriching receptacle for the gas.

4. In an acetylene gas generator,the combination of two tanks or vessels, a carbid-re ceptacle in each, a water-supply thereto, and gas-exits therefrom to a common main, a pressure-controlling valve in each tank having an exit leading to the other tank and a cross connection from each tank to said valve to actuate the pressure-controlling valves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON A. HAMILTON.

WVitnessesi JAMES WHITTEMORE, M. B. ODoeHERrY. 

